I joined the Crocs bandwagon. Here's why you should too
I first got Croc-fever when I was part of a bridal party at a wedding earlier this year. The mother-of-the-bride had a great moment of foresight and purchased four pairs of white Crocs for the unsuspecting bridesmaids and for herself for when the time came to hit the dancefloor.
With no qualms for appearance or tradition, I happily rid myself of my two-inch heels and slipped them on, ready to dance for hours with comfortable feet. That night, the Crocs made all the difference, and despite losing them by the end of the night, I've been intrigued ever since. So, when a bold pink pair slid across my desk, in the year of the Barbie movie, I decided to revisit this bizarre water-shoe trend and see if I could make something of it for myself.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
Women's Clogs in Pink
Why are Crocs popular again?
Crocs have gone gangbusters in the last eighteen months, popularised by some designer-loving stars. Justin Bieber was an early adopter, wearing a platform Balenciaga pair of Crocs on the 2022 Oscar's red carpet. He went on to collaborate with Crocs and release a limited edition pair, which sold out within a matter of days.
Since then, the trend has exploded. His wife, the sartorially-savvy Hailey Bieber, is regularly spotted in the Cozzzy variation. We've seen Victoria Beckham don a pair of Croc boots (ironically? We don't know anymore!) despite claiming she'd 'rather die' than try the pair Bieber sent to her. Madonna, Heidi Klum, Jonothan Van Ness, Priyanka Chopra, John Cena, G Flip, etc., have all been spotted wearing Crocs.
With all this star power involved in the sudden Crocs trend, I was left wondering whether I was cool enough to pull off these ridiculous, holey rubber shoes – the same ones I used to giggle at my grandmother for wearing. While styling proved to be a challenge, I'm proud to now call myself a Crocs convert – so here's everything you need to know before you don a pair of Crocs.
Are Crocs comfy?
A lot of people talk about the inherent comfort of Crocs, and I can confirm they are quite a comfortable shoe. Their soles are moulded with small, ergonomic spikes that massage the feet while you move, making for a comfy walking experience. I got through a whole workday without any discomfort to report, although I could go without the squeaky sound they make when worn on linoleum.
As someone who walks a lot, I'd draw the line at wearing them on my daily kilometre-length walk to the office, but they're fine for daily wear if you're not exercising a lot. And when it does come to exercise, they're an awesome shoe to wear to and from yoga or a Pilates class, as they slip on and off easily.
They're also great for the beach. I usually wear Birkenstock sandals on the sand, but I've noticed they become waterlogged quite quickly if you put your wet feet in them. Crocs are fast-drying, and sand brushes off them easily – a dream.
Are Crocs hard to style?
The short answer is yes. But it's not impossible. I would call Crocs statement shoes these days, given their divisive nature and their chokehold on the fashion world. This means they look good with basic outfits – denim, black, and white all seemed to be safe. And with the weather warming up outside, I had a lot to play with.
What are Jibbitz?
I also invested in a pack of Jibbitz, little badges that slip into the holes of your Crocs to add a little more personality. I bought this pack from Amazon, which arrived overnight and offered enough variety that I could change up the look of my shoes for each outfit. With 100 Jibbitz to choose from, I now take great pride in customising my Crocs before I wear them out. I currently have a floral theme going, but I could switch this to food, animals, or random hearts and peace symbols if the mood took me.
Will I ever wear them again?
Once you get over the strange feeling of wearing the world's ugliest shoe, the novelty can be a bit of fun. I really enjoy playing with the Jibbitz, and I'll wear my Crocs a few times a week.
I wear them most often when going to yoga, knowing I'll be slipping them off when I get there. I also wear them when doing errands – I took them out on a takeaway pickup mission and enjoyed the few surprised looks they got. They do look like the most pink-loving five-year-old girl threw up on them, so I get it.
While I haven't been brave enough to wear them 'out' yet, I think they're a very cute look for spring, and I'm excited to see how many ways I can style them.
Now, I need to decide what my next pair will be.
Crocs Unisex Adult Classic Cozzzy Sandals
Crocs Classic Slides
Crocs Classic Crush Clogs
Crocs Hiker 2.0 Festival Clogs
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